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Agence France-Presse

Argentina’s President Javier Milei has hailed his party’s runaway victory in Sunday’s midterm elections as a “turning point” for the country and vowed to charge ahead with his agenda of shrinking the state and deregulating the economy.
Milei’s La Libertad Avanza (LLA) party rebounded from a series of setbacks to win 40.7 per cent of the votes cast for members of Congress, far outpacing the opposition in an election closely watched by jittery investors.
“Today we reached a turning point. Today begins the construction of a great Argentina,” the 55-year-old president told supporters at a victory party in Buenos Aires.
He promised to continue on the reform path with what he predicted would be “the most reformist Congress in Argentina’s history”.

US President Donald Trump, a close ally, congratulated Milei, whom he said “had a lot of help from us”.
Half of the seats in the Chamber of Deputies and one-third of the Senate seats were up for grabs on Sunday.
Milei said LLA had more than tripled its seat count, winning 101 seats in the lower house Chamber of Deputies, up from 37, and 20 seats in the Senate, up from six. The number of seats still needed to be confirmed by the final vote count this week.
The centre-left Peronist movement, in power for much of Argentina’s post-war history, trailed in second place with 31.7 per cent.
The strong results push Milei comfortably past the one-third of seats he needs in the 257-member lower house to protect his veto power.
Axel Kicillof, the governor of Buenos Aires Province and Milei’s political nemesis, said it was necessary to “redouble efforts to take care of the people”.

“Milei is wrong if he celebrates this election result where six out of 10 Argentines have said that they don’t agree with the model he’s proposing,” Kicillof wrote on X.
The elections were the first national test of Milei’s support since he won office two years ago on a promise to revive the long-ailing Argentine economy through a series of painful reforms. The results also automatically positioned Milei as a candidate for re-election in 2027.
The run-up to the vote was marked by a run on the national currency, the peso, which forced Milei to seek a bailout from Trump.
Washington promised an unprecedented US$40 billion aid package, but the assistance came with a warning from Trump to Argentines that he would not “be generous” if the election did not go Milei’s way.
“That was a big win in Argentina,” Trump said aboard Air Force One. “I gave him an endorsement, (a) very strong endorsement.”
At the LLA election party, hundreds of Milei’s supporters celebrated with cheers, hugs, chants and even tears.

“I’m very happy and excited; I didn’t expect such a large number,” Facundo Campos, a 38-year-old marketing consultant, said.
Ahead of the election, several Milei voters had spoken about their disappointment with his leadership, particularly the corruption scandals involving members of his inner circle.
But they remained viscerally opposed to the Peronist movement, whose figurehead, former president Cristina Kirchner, is under house arrest after being convicted of corruption.
At 67.9 per cent, turnout was the lowest in a national election in four decades, reflecting disillusionment with the entire political class.
Adriana Cotoneo, a 69-year-old pensioner voting in Buenos Aires, said she backed Milei’s party “not because I believe it’s the best option, but because I’m clear about who I want to be gone”.
Former TV pundit Milei has cut tens of thousands of public sector jobs, frozen public works, cut spending on health, education and pensions and led a major deregulation drive since taking office in December 2023.
His reforms were blamed for initially plunging millions of Argentines deeper into poverty. They did however, slow inflation by two-thirds - to the relief of many - although at the expense of faltering economic growth, consumption and manufacturing.
Investors began dumping the Argentine peso last month amid concerns over the economy and support for Milei.
The US Treasury has intervened several times in the market in recent weeks, buying up pesos to help keep it afloat.
Ahead of the election, expectations were high that the government could depreciate or devalue the peso, immediately after the vote.
But Economy Minister Luis Caputo on Sunday ruled out such a step.
Additional reporting by Associated Press and Bloomberg


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Argentina

Argentina’s Milei vows more reforms after stunning midterm elections victory

Argentina’s President Javier Milei celebrates after the La Libertad Avanza party won the midterm elections. Photo: Reuters

Argentina’s President Javier Milei on the day of the midterm elections. Photo: Reuters

A supporter of Argentina’s former president Cristina Kirchner holds a sign depicting US President Donald Trump and Argentina’s President Javier Milei. Photo: AFP

Argentina’s former president Cristina Kirchner, who is under house arrest after being convicted of corruption. Photo: AFP

Trump ally Milei formalises US$20 billion currency swap before Argentine vote

US President Donald Trump greets President of Argentina Javier Milei as he arrives in Washington earlier this month. Photo: TNS

The Argentine currency, the peso, has fluctuated wildly. Photo: AFP

Trump says could cut US aid to Argentina if Milei loses midterm elections

US President Donald Trump welcomes Argentina’s President Javier Milei at the White House on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

US President Donald Trump hosts Argentina’s President Javier Milei at the White House on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

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Handlers move cattle at the livestock market in Canuelas, Argentina’s main cattle trading hub, on Tuesday. Photo: AP

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Argentine President Javier Milei (left) shakes hands with US President Donald Trump as they meet during the 80th United Nations General Assembly last month in New York City. Photo: Reuters

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World

Americas

Argentina’s president triumphs in midterm elections widely seen as a referendum on his past two years in office


Argentina’s president triumphs in midterm elections widely seen as a referendum on his past two years in office.


Javier Milei

Donald Trump

Americas and the Caribbean

United States

Argentina’s Milei vows more reforms after stunning midterm elections victory

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Argentina’s president triumphs in midterm elections widely seen as a referendum on his past two years in office

Argentina’s president triumphs in midterm elections widely seen as a referendum on his past two years in office